ST. PETERSBURG – The two arms of the dysfunctional Yankees family got together for lunch yesterday at Malio’s, a Tampa restaurant George Steinbrenner often uses for such sitdowns with his Inner Circle.

It was the first time Torre and Steinbrenner saw each other face to face since Torre tweaked The Boss last week in New York. However, by all accounts, the men were civil to each to other.

“A lot of it was just the state of the ballclub,” Torre said of the sitdown. “Just like every time we meet. There was no specific topic talked about.”

Steinbrenner has been concerned about the bullpen, and that was addressed yesterday. But the Yankees aren’t ready to give up Nick Johnson or Brandon Claussen for the Rangers’ Ugueth Urbina. The Yankees view getting Bernie Williams and Nick Johnson back from the disabled list as being like trading-deadline acquisitions, so the need for a bat isn’t a glaring one.

“You are always looking to see what you can do,” Torre said. “Whether you have a meeting or not, that’s your mindset.”

* If Jason Giambi can hold a bat, “I want to play,” said Giambi, who left last night’s game with a bruised right wrist after taking a Julio Lugo smash off it. “If I can hold the bat I will be fine.”

* Williams will test his surgically repaired left knee today when he takes BP with the Yankees. Torre is looking for his switch-hitting center fielder and cleanup batter to return immediately after the All-Star break. . . . Jose Contreras will play catch Friday then have another MRI exam of his bothersome right shoulder next week.